Garment hanger



Sept. 28, 1965 P. H. SKLAROW 3,208,651

GARMENT HANGER Filed Jan. 14. 1964 2: Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

PERCY H. SKLAROW BY zWVM ATTORNEY Sept. 28, 1965 P. H. SKLAROW 3,208,651

GARMENT HANGER Filed Jan. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 74 PERCY dy if w 9ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,208,651 GARMENT HANGER Percy H. Sklarow,750 Cathedral Road, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Jan. 14, 1964, Ser. No.337,579 8 Claims. (01. 223-68) This invention relates to a garmenthanger. More particularly, it relates to a hanger for womens and girlsdresses which provides a shaping function.

The invention has particular applicability to the practices ofcommercial establishments such as dry-cleaning plants, in returning acleaned or otherwise processed or repaired dress to the user on a hangerwhich also serves the function of a dress form so that the dress is heldin a shaped condition. This is a highly desirable function. Theapplicability of the invention is not, of course, limited todry-cleaners. It may be used, for example, by merchandisers of newdresses.

In this patent, it is understood that a reference to a womans dressincludes all dresses and dress-like garments of women, misses and girls.

The practice of this invention permits the rapid, easy, and inexpensiveconstruction of what is, in effect, a combined hanger and dress formwhich can be individually assembled or constructed and fitted for eachgarment in an economical manner.

An object of this invention is to provide a garment hanger.

An object of this invention is to provide a combined dress form anddress hanger.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dress hanger havingform elements of sheet material.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a womans dresscombined hanger and form in which shaping elements of cardboard areprovided, to adjustably fit any dress.

Other aims and objects of this invention are made apparent in thefollowing specification and claims.

The invention is best understood in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the hanger, partiallyfragmented;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of the hanger;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the second embodiment of the hanger,including a detail of one portion thereof;

FIGURE 4a is an enlarged view of part of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 4.

It is considered that this invention is a combined hanger and form, andreference is made throughout to elements which comprise part of thehanger and other elements which comprise part of the form, although itis understood that the functions of these two elements necessarily tendto overlap. Except for the hanger elements and for elements specificallydescribed as being of tissue paper, the preferred material for theremaining elements of the invention (generally the form elements) iscardboard. While cardboard is highly preferred because of itssatisfactory structural and handling qualities and its economic aspects,it is understood, of course, that other similar materials could be usedwithin the spirit of the invention. Reference throughout is tocardboard.

The simpler embodiment is illustrated in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2, and theinvention is initially described in connection with this embodiment. Thehanger ele- 3,208,651 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 ice ment 12 is preferablyand generally an ordinary so-called coat hanger, usually made of bentwire. It includes a hook of wire, said wire being extended to form theusual triangular shape of the hanger. The upper sides of the hanger arepreferably covered with a protective shield 14 which may be spongyplastic as shown, or a cardboard strip. In the embodiment shown, aprotective paper cover 18 is provided over the hanger. Such covers andshields are sometimes provided for use on metal hangers wherehigh-quality garments are to be handled, since the protective shieldsand covers prevent any rust from the hanger proper reaching the garment.

A long cardboard strip is provided. The operator bends the strip upwardsat two places so as to form two uprights or upright elements 24A and abase or base element 24B, thus, making a U-shaped body piece. The upperend of each upright 24A is clipped to the bottom of the hanger by meansof metal clip 22, here illustrated as a metal ring. The structure 24A,24B and the following structure comprise in general the form element ofthe combination.

The clips 22 may alternatively be safety pins. The proportioning in sizeof the upright and base, and also the following structure is adapted bythe operator to suit the particular garment involved.

Another (second) elongated strip of cardboard is then bent and stapledto make the bust structure. Certain bends may be scored on the cardboardstrip to facilitate bending. Typically, the formation of the buststructure is as follows, as best shown in FIGURE 2. The second cardboardstrip is initially bent at four right-angles to make the box-like centersupport 30. As shown, the end of the strip is at the upper right-handcorner, and the bends are successively at the lower right, lower left,upper left and upper right corners, thus, defining a rectangle. Afterbending, several staples are inserted through the right-hand side tosecure the center support. The strip is then continued to the right. Aslit starting from the bottom edge of the strip and extending onlypartway through it is provided and serves as a divider between the innerbust portion 30A and the outer bust portion 30B. The operator slightlybows the inner bust portion, as shown in FIGURE 2, and bends thecardboard strip so that the lower edge of outer bust portion 303 partlyoverlaps the lower edge of inner bust portion 30A. This provides acorresponding bowing effect in the outer bust portion 30B also. Severalstaples 32, as shown in FIGURE 1, are inserted to hold the edges of theslit together. It is apparent that this operation provides a ratherelementary garment bust structure in a garment form.

Outer bust portion 30B is continued to the right and is stapled againstupright 24A, it is then brought around to the left in the back of theform, making a long arc or back bow 30C. Back bow 300 is then stapled tothe inside of the left-hand upright 24A, and is extended to make a leftbust member, comprising an outer bust portion 30B and an inner bustportion 30A. As has been described above in connection with the rightbust member, a slit is provided extending from the lower edge of thestrip partially through it, and the overlap and bowing effect isprovided as has been described, and the edges of the slit are stapledtogether with staples 32. The inner bust portion 30A of the left bustmember is then extended to the left side of the center support 30 andstapled to it.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, a separate piece of cardboard isthen taken and stapled between the back bow 30C and the center support30 to form a brace 34. This brace is preferred for reasons of stability,but is optional. Convenience and economy of assembly may 3 takeprecedence over stability and, thus, eliminate brace 34.

It is apparent that precut lengths of cardboard may be provided, withscores thereon to facilitate the bends required to make center support30. The slits to make the left and right bust members may be provided,it being preferable to provide a plurality of closely adjacent slits foreach side so that the proper one may be chosen. Al-

ternatively, the operator may be left free to make the slit with ascissors or other instrument at the point desired. Any excess length ofcardboard strip may be trimmed off after the bust structure has beenmade, if desired.

As shown in FIGURE 1, it is preferable to complete the combined hangerand form, generally designated 10, by afiixing masses of tissue paper 16over the upper portions of the hanger, and masses of tissue paper 26 toform a drape for the hips of the garment.

An alternate embodiment of the principle of this invention isillustrated in FIGURES 3-6. A front view of the completed combinedhanger and form, generally des- H ignated A, is shown in FIGURE 3. Inthis showing, only a basic wire hanger 12 is provided, without theprotective shields and covers, and also the tissue paper as shown inFIGURE 1 is eliminated. It is understood that more elaborate hangers I2and the provision of tissue paper may be incorporated in thisembodiment, but for ease in illustration, they are not shown in FIGURE3.

In this embodiment, it is an aim to provide a set of pre-preparedcardboard elements which require a minimum of difficult handling by theoperator, and attempt to eliminate as much as possible the necessity ofstapling or otherwise affixing the elements. The U-shaped body piecewhich was made of parts 24A and 24B in the first described embodiment,is here made of two separate cardboard strips. A right-hand body pieceelement 50B is provided. This is an elongated cardboard strip. Near oneend, a hanger-receiving hole 51A is provided, and access to this hole isprovided by slit 51. Preferably, the upper corners are chamfered, asshown in FIGURE 4. A plurality of parallel scores 52 are provided acrossthe width of the cardboard strip, closer to the end thereof remote fromthe end having the hanger receiving hole 51A. At the end thereof remotefrom the end having the hole 51A, a plurality of slits 58 are provided.As best shown in FIGURE 5, these slits 58 each have their major portionaligned parallel to the length of the cardboard strip and approximatelycentered therein.

Another cardboard strip is provided to make left-hand body piece element50A. This left-hand element is substantially identical with theright-hand element except that at the bottom end thereof, instead ofhaving a plurality of slits 58, the cardboard is cut or otherwise formedto make a tab 57, as best shown in FIGURE 5. The tab 57 is made bycutting away a portion of the cardboard near the end so that tab 57 maybe described as a partially closed hook whose extended portion extendssubstantially perpendicular to the length of the cardboard strip.

In use, the elements 50A and 50B are each hung from hanger 12 by passingthe lower bar of the hanger through slit 51 into the hanger receivinghole 51A. Each element is then bent inwardly at any of the chosen scores52, to form a right-angle, the tab or hook 57 on left-hand element 50Ais then inserted into the nearest matching slit 58 in the right-handelement, as best shown in FIGURE 5. It is apparent that the basicU-shaped body piece may thus be made, with a choice of lengths andwidths, depending upon which score 52 is used as the bend, and whichslit 58 is utilized to fasten the elements together. There is additionalstructure on each of elements 50A and 5013, which is described below inconnection with its function.

A bust structure is provided in this embodiment also. As illustrated,this bust structure comprises two elements. The right bust member, asshown in FIGURE 5, is an elongated cardboard strip. At one end it isprovided with a tab or hook 73 which has its extension generallyextending toward one side of the cardboard strip, as has been generallydescribed in connection with the body piece elements or strips. Thenature of this tab 73 is best shown in FIGURE 3.

The right bust member may be considered as being of two sections, anouter bust portion 71B and an inner bust portion 72B. These portions aredelineated by a slit extending part way across the right bust form.

Between the tab 73 and the slit B are provided a pair of parallel sideslits A. These side slits are disposed parallel to the long axis of thecardboard strip. Each extend a distance somewhat longer than the widthof the body form elements 50A and 50B. The disposition and structure ofthe side slits 75A are best shown in FIG- URE 4.

The left bust member is similar to the right bust member in that it isprovided with a similar slit extending part way across the cardboardstrip, dividing it into an inner bust portion 72A and an outer bustportion 71A. It is also similar to the right bust member in that it ispro- Vided with the pair of side slits 75A, as have been described abovein connection with the right bust member. As best shown in FIGURE 3, theside slits serve to define between them a section of the cardboard whichmay be termed a bust member suspension strip. As best shown in FIGURE 5,in the right bust member, the part way across or transverse slitdescribed above is as far from the corresponding suspension strip 75 asthe corresponding slit and strip are in the left bust member.

The left bust member differs from the right bust member in that at theend nearest the suspension strip, the element or strip comprising theleft bust member is provided with a plurality of slits 74, each havingits major portion parallel to the long axis of the cardboard strip andapproximately centered therein, and aligned in end-to-end relationship.These slits 74 are best shown in FIGURE 3, and have the shape thereindrawn. The function of any one of the slits 74 is to receive and holdthe tab 23. Thus, the locking means which holds the left bust form 70Aand right bust form 70B is the same as the locking means 57, 58, whichholds the right-hand and left-hand body piece portions together, as hasbeen described.

The left bust member 70A is continued beyond the transverse slitsomewhat further than is the corresponding part (inner bust portion 72B)of right bust member 70B. This additional extension is provided so thatthe strip may be folded to form the box-like center support 77. Tofacilitate this folding, transversed scores are impressed into thecardboard strip at the corners of box 77. In the same manner as has beendescribed in connection with the box-like center support 30 in theembodiment of FIGURE 2, the operator may fold the end of left bust form70A on the scores provided so as to form the boxlike center support 77,and then hold the box in permanent closed position by means of staplingor similar means. It is apparent also that it is completely equivalentto have the extension necessary for forming the box 77 on the right bustmember 70B. It is also apparent that it is possible, through lessdesirable, to provide a separate preformed box 77 or a separate strip ofcardboard for making it.

In the manner that has been described in connection with the embodimentof FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2, the operator makes the shaped bust members byoverlapping and bowing the lower edges of the inner and outer bustportions and stapling them in that position, as best shown in FIGURE 5.The operator can then join the left-hand and right-hand bust members bymanipulation of the locking means (tab 73, slit 74) as has beendescribed. It is obvious that by selectively choosing one or another ofthe available slits 74, the dimensions of the bust structure can bevaried to fit the garment. The bust structure may now he slipped overand onto the body piece elements 50A and 5013, the body piece elementsbeing passed between the bust structure suspension strips 75 and themain portion of the bust structure.

The further parts on the right-hand and left-hand body piece elements50A and 50B, referred to above, are now described in connection with itsfunction. A plurality of selectively choosable upper support tabs 53 areprovided in each of the body piece elements 50A and 50B. The shape ofthese tabs is preferably defined by a U- shaped slit 53A with the openends of the U pointing upward, as best shown in FIGURE 4. As is bestshown in FIGURE 3, the tab 53 selected is pushed inwardly so that itrests over the top of the bust member 70B.

A plurality of lower support tabs 54 are also provided on each of thebody piece elements 50A and 5013 at edges thereof. As is best shown inthe enlarged section of FIGURE 4, these lower support tabs are definedby a short transverse slit 54A and a score 54B leading from the inneredge of the slit 54A to the edge of the body piece element. As is bestshown in FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 6, one of the lower support tabs 54 may beselectively chosen by folding it inwardly along its score 54B so that itpasses under the bust member 70B. As is best shown in FIGURE 6, theupper support tab 53 and the lower support tab 54 together serve to holdthe bust member firmly at a chosen point with relation to and on thebody piece. It is apparent that it is desirable to have the spacingbetween the upper and lower support tabs such that a bust member willfit snugly between a chosen pair of upper and lower tabs.

The operator, having carried out the steps described above in connectionwith the body piece and the right and left bust members, now firmlypositions the bust structure on the body piece, as described, and holdsit there with the appropriate locking means (which, in this case, is theproper combination of upper and lower support tabs) at the place bestsuited to the garment. The entire bust structure and body piece may nowbe supported from the hanger 12 by passing the wire of hanger 12 throughthe slits 51 and into the hanger receiving hole 51A.

The function served by the two described embodiments is the same. Theadvantage of the second described embodiment is that a variety of sizesand proportions are available by simple manipulation without necessityof using safety pins, clips or rings. The necessity of the use ofstaples is reduced to a minimum. A set of four different prepunched,cut, and scored strips of cardboard are suitable to make the combinedform. The term elongated strip is used herein to mean a structuralmember having a longitudinal dimension much greater than its transversedimension, and having a relatively small thickness in comparison witheither of the longitudinal or transverse dimensions, as illustrated inthe drawings, and in accord with common usage.

The scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claimsand not limited by the foregoing description and drawings which areillustrative.

I claim:

1. A combined garment hanger and form adapted for rapid assemblycomprising (A) a rigid hanger having a hook and (B) a form substantiallyof elongated bendable sheet strips attached to said hanger andcomprising 1. a U-shaped body piece having a pair of uprights and a basetherebetween, said uprights being attached at each of the upper endsthereof to said hanger,

2. a bust structure positioned within said body piece and fastened toeach of said uprights thereof, said bust structure comprising a. a rightbust member and a left bust member each of said right bust member andleft bust member having an inner bust portion and an outer bust portion,

b. a center support box between and connected to said inner bust portionof said right bust member and said inner bust portion of said left bustmember,

c. a back bow section behind said center support box, extending betweensaid uprights, and connecting said outer bust portion of said right bustmember and said outer bust portion of said left bust member,

whereby a garment may be hung on said combined hanger and form and haveits shape maintained.

2. A combined garment hanger and form as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid body piece consists of a single elongated bendable strip, said buststructure consists of a single elongated bendable strip, and said stripsare bent and provided with locking means and are held in position tomake said body piece and said bust structure by said locking means.

3. A combined grament hanger and form as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid locking means comprise staples.

4. A combined garment hanger and form as set forth in claim 3 wherein anadditional strip is inserted between and affixed to said back bowsection and said center box support as a brace.

5. A combined garment hanger and form as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid body piece consists of two elongated bendable strips, each stripbeing bent to make one of said uprights and part of said base, each ofsaid strips having selectively adjustable coacting locking means at oneend thereof to lock said strips together in said base, and said buststructure consists of two elongated bendable strips, each of said stripshaving selectively adjustable coacting locking means at one end thereofto lock said strips together in said back bow.

6. A combined garment hanger and form as set forth in claim 5 whereineach of said body piece strips has a hanger receiving hole at the endthereof remote from said locking means, a plurality of upper supporttabs therein, a plurality of lower support tabs therein, and a pluralityof transverse scores therein between said support tabs and said lockingmeans.

7. A combined garment hanger and form as set forth in claim 6 whereineach of said bust structure strips includes a transverse slit passingonly part way across said strip, and a pair of side slits parallel toeach other and to the long edge of said strip, said side slits defininga bust structure suspension strip between them, said side slits beingspaced between said transverse slit and said locking means.

8. A combined garment hanger and form as set forth in claim 7 whereineach of said uprights of said body piece is positioned through one ofsaid pairs of side slits and under one of said bust structure suspensionstrips, and wherein each of said uprights has an upper support tabextending over said bust structure and a lower support tab extendingunder said bust structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,685,392 8/54Williams 22368 2,702,148 2/55 Paasche 223-68 2,756,911 7/56 Kantor 22368JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

1. A COMBINED GARMENT HANGER AND FORM ADAPTED FOR RAPID ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING (A) A RIGID HANGER HAVING A HOOK AND (B) A FORM SUBSTANTIALLYOF ELONGATED BENDABLE SHEET STRIPS ATTACHED TO SAID HANGER ANDCOMPRISING
 1. A U-SHAPED BODY PIECE HAVING A PAIR OF UPRIGHTS AND A BASETHEREBETWEEN, SAID UPRIGHTS BEING ATTACHED AT EACH OF THE UPPER ENDSTHEREOF TO SAID HANGER,
 2. A BUST STURCTURE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID BODYPIECE AND FASTENED TO EACH OF SAID UPRIGHTS THEROF, SAI BUST MEMBER ANDA LEFT BUWST MEMA. A RIGHT BUST MEMBER AND A LEFT BUST MEMBER EACH OFSAID RIGHT BUST MEMBER AND LEFT BUST MEMBER HAVING AN INNER BUST PORTIONAND AN OUTER BUST PORTION, B. A CENTER SUPPORT BOX BETWEEN AND CONNECTEDTO SAID INNER BUST PORTION OF SAID RIGHT BUST MEMBER ANS SAID INNER BUSTPORTION OF SAID LEFT BUST MEMBR, C. A BACK BOW SECTION BEHIND SAIDCENTER SUPPORT BOX, EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHTS TO SAID INNER BUSTPORTION OF SAID RIGHT BUST SAID RIGHT BUST MEMBER AND SAID OUTER BUSTPORTION OF SAID LEFT BUST MEMBER, WHEREBY A GARMENT MAY BE HUNG ON SAIDCOMBINED HANGER AND FORM AND HAVE ITS SHAPE MAINTAINED.